System and methods for condensing vapor product

Abstract

A system for condensing vapor product is provided. The system includes a first duct configured to receive a vapor product having a first humidity level, the first duct having a first charge in response to application of a first voltage to the first duct so as to ionize the vapor product. A second duct is configured to allow the ionized vapor product to pass therethrough and configured with a second charge in response to application of a second volt age to thereby allow collection of at least a portion of liquid particles present in the ionized vapor product and form a first modified vapor product. A chamber is configured to receive the first modified vapor product and includes at least one cooling plate configured to reduce a temperature of the first modified vapor product, and at least one first mesh plate configured to collect at least a portion of liquid particles. Methods for condensing vapor are also provided.

1 . A system comprising:
 a first duct configured to receive a vapor product having a first humidity level, the first duct having a first charge in response to application of a first voltage to the first duct so as to ionize the vapor product;   a second duct in fluid communication with and arranged downstream of the first duct and configured to allow the ionized vapor product to pass therethrough, the second duct configured with a second charge in response to application of a second voltage that is different than the first voltage to thereby allow collection of at least a portion of liquid particles present in the ionized vapor product and form a first modified vapor product with a first modified humidity level that is greater than the first humidity level; and   a chamber configured to receive the first modified vapor product, the chamber comprising,
 at least one cooling plate configured to reduce a temperature of the first modified vapor product to form a second modified vapor product having a second modified humidity level that is less than the first modified humidity level, and 
 at least one first mesh plate arranged downstream of the at least one cooling plate and configured to collect at least a portion of liquid particles present within the second modified vapor product or a third modified vapor product to form a fourth modified vapor product having a fourth modified humidity level that is less than at least the second modified humidity level, the at least one first mesh plate having a third charge in response to application of a third voltage that is different than the second voltage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises a separator configured to direct liquid particles from at least the first modified vapor product and into a reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the separator comprises a conical-shaped plate arranged within the chamber such that a gap is formed between the conical-shaped plate and a sidewall of the chamber, wherein the gap is configured to receive and direct the liquid particles into the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises a point electrode having a fourth charge in response to application of a fourth voltage that is different than the third voltage, the point electrode configured to ionize the second modified vapor product that passes across or proximate to the point electrode to modify the electrical charge of the second modified vapor product. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second duct comprises a spiral electrode at least partially extending through a channel of the second duct, the spiral electrode being electrically charged with the second voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spiral electrode comprises a plurality of point electrodes arranged along a length of the spiral electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling plate comprises a thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further includes at least one second mesh plate positioned between the point electrode and the at least one first mesh plate, the at least one second mesh plate configured to configured to collect at least a portion of liquid particles present within the second modified vapor product to form a third modified vapor product having a third modified humidity level that is less than at least the second modified humidity level. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first mesh plate is further configured to allow the collection of the liquid particles to selectively separate from the at least one first mesh plate by at least gravity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises a reservoir configured to receive liquid particles selectively separated from at least the first modified vapor product and the second modified vapor product. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower configured to propel the vapor product through the first duct and second duct to the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reducer positioned between the first duct and the second duct and configured to increase the flow rate of the ionized vapor product as it passes through the reducer and towards the second duct. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 passing a vapor product through a first duct electrically charged with a first voltage to ionize the vapor product;   passing the ionized vapor product through a second duct positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the first duct to form a first modified vapor product, the second duct being electrically charged with a second voltage that is different than the first voltage;   passing the first modified vapor product into a chamber, the chamber having at least one cooling plate and at least one first mesh plate positioned downstream of the at least one cooling plate, the at least one first mesh plate being electrically charged with a third voltage that is different than at least the second voltage;   cooling, by the at least one cooling plate, the first modified vapor product to form a second modified vapor product; and   removing, by the at least one first mesh plate, at least a portion of liquid particles present within the second modified vapor product or a third modified vapor product to form a fourth modified vapor product.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vapor product has a first humidity level, the first modified vapor product has a first modified humidity level that is greater than the first humidity level, the second modified vapor product has a second modified humidity level that is less than the first humidity level, and the fourth modified vapor product has a third humidity level that is less than the second modified humidity level. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chamber includes a separator positioned between an inlet of the chamber and the at least one cooling plate, and the method further comprises, prior to the removing step, separating, by the separator, at least a portion of liquid particles present within the first modified vapor product. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a point electrode electrically charged with a fourth voltage that is different than at least the third voltage, and the method further comprises:
 ionizing, by the point electrode, the second modified vapor product that passes across or proximate to the point electrode to modify the electrical charge of the second modified vapor product.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chamber includes at least one second mesh plate, and the method further comprises,
 removing, by the at least one second mesh plate, at least a portion of liquid particles present within the second modified vapor product to form a third modified vapor product having a third modified humidity level that is less than at least the second modified humidity level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a reducer is positioned between the first duct and the second duct, and wherein the method further comprises,
 increasing, by the reducer, a flow rate of the ionized vapor product as it passes therethrough and towards the second duct.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second duct comprises a spiral electrode disposed within the second duct, the spiral electrode being electrically charged with the second voltage, and wherein passing the ionized vapor product through a second duct comprises:
 passing the ionized vapor product across the spiral electrode to allow at least a portion of liquid particles present within the ionized vapor product to collect on the spiral electrode, wherein the collection of the liquid particles selectively separates from the spiral electrode such that the combination of the collection of liquid particles and the remaining ionized vapor product form the first modified vapor product.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 collecting the liquid particles selectively separated from at least the first modified vapor product and the second modified vapor product and transferring the collected liquid particles to a reservoir.